Block-signaling apparatus



No. 6l3,567. Patented Nov. l, I898. T. T. FOGEL.

BLD GK SIGNALING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Dec. 6, 1897.)

4 Shoots-Shoat I.

(No Model.)

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No. ("3,567. Patented Nov. I, I898. T. T. FUGEL.

BLOCK-SIGNALING APPARATUS.

. (Application filed Dec. 6, 1897.)

I (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

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No. 68,567. Patented Nov. l, I898. T. T. FUGEL.

BLOCK SIGNALING APPARATUS.

(Appfipatkm filed Dec. 6, 1897.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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No. 68,567. Patented Nov, 1, I898.

T. T. roan.

BLOCK SIGNALING APPARATUS.

(Application'filod me. e, 1997. (N0 mm. 4 Sheets-Shut 4.

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ATTORNEY.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TAYLOR THOMAS FOGEL, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA,

BLOCK-SIGNALING APPARATUS srEcI'mcA'rIoN forming part of Letters PatentNo. 613,567, dated November 1, 1898.

Application filed December 6, 1897. Serial No. 660,842. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TAYLOR THOMAS Fo- GEL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBlock-Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to block-signaling apparatus for railways in whichan indicator is operated by a moving car to show whether the block is oris not clear; and the objects of my invention are, first, to indicatethe passage of a car on the block and to maintain the indication thereofso longas any of a plurality of cars are on the block; second, toindicate a clear block only when the last of the cars that may have beenon the block has passed therefrom; third, to indicate to theoperating-car that it has operated the signal, and, fourth, to providesimple and eflicient mechanism, automatically operated, for effectingthe aforesaid results.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of whichFigure 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing thetarget-operating mechan ism in its position with respect to the casing.Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the target=operating mechanism. Fig. 3 isa rear elevation of the target-operating mechanism. Fig. dis adiagrammatic illustration of a method of wiring for operating thesignal. Fig. 4c is a diagrammatic illustration of the preferred methodof wiring for operating the signal and for indicating to theoperating-car that it has operated the signal. Fig. 5 is a side view ofthe circuit-closer operated by the trolley for effecting the operationof the target, and Fig. 6 is an. end view of the circuit-closer.

Referring to the drawings, the casing 1,

11, fixed at equal intervals around the pc= riphery thereof. A brush 12,secured to the hanger 7 by the binding-screw 13, but insulated therefromby the non-conducting material 14, bears against the inner face of thedisk 9, excepting when the sector 10 is opposite thereto, thus formingan electrical connection between the disk and the screw. The solenoids 5and 6 are respectively provided with the armatures and 16 of rectangularcross-section, having the stems 17 and 18, which support the respectivepawls 19 and 20. The pawls 19 and 20 are respectively pivoted at thepoints 21 and 22 in yokes 23 and 24, and have weights 25 and 26 andstops 27 and 28 for normally holding their noses 29 and 30 in thepositions illustrated in Fig. 3.

A bracket 31, attached to the hanger 7 by the lugs 32 and 33, serves tosupport the bellcranks-34 and 35, pivoted at the points 36 and 37 tosaid bracket. The normal position of each bell-crank is illustrated bythat of the bell-crank in Fig. 3, the inner arm thereof being in contactwith the pin 38, which limits the distance the outer arm can fall andpermits the pins 11 to clear the inner arm. When, however, either of theaforementioned solenoids, as 5, is excited, its armature 15 rises andits pawl 19 engages the pin 11 next above it, thus revolving the disk 9through an octant and no more, for the armatures are respectivelyprovided with the pins 39 and 40, and in rising the pin 39 catches theouter arm of the bell-crank 34 and rocks it to the position illustratedin Fig. 3, causing its innor arm to assume the vertical position in thepath of the advancing pin 11 next above that engaged by the pawl 19,whereby the disk 9 is checked. When the solenoid releases, its armaturefalls and its pivoted pawl slips past the pin below it.

It will be seen that when the solenoid 6 is excited the disk 9 isrevolved in the reverse direction from that effected by the solenoid 5by similar mechanism, and that each impulse of the solenoid 6 reversesthe disk one octant; but it will be observed that the disk cannot berevolved in either direction through more than a complete revolution, asits motion is limited by a pin 41, set in the hanger 7, which engages apin 42, set in the disk.

It will be evident that the construction may be varied by dividing thedisk 9, as may be considered expedient, and adapting the mechanism tomove this disk through the desired are at each impulse.

A solenoid 43 is supported by a stem 44, having a pivoted connectionwith a stud 45, supported by the hanger 7. The armaturestem 46 of thissolenoid is pivoted to a stud or crank-pin 47, fixed in a disk or hub48, which is journaled on the shaft 8. The hub 48 carries a white target49, which is balanced by a weighted lever 50, projecting oppositely fromsaid hub. It will be evident that when the solenoid 43 is excited itsstem 46 will rise and elevate the target 49 to the position illustratedin Fig. 2, a pin 51, set in the hanger 7, engaging the lever 50 to limitthe upward movement of the target and prevent the crank-pin 47 fromreaching the dead-center. When the solenoid 43 releases its armature,the target 49 drops and is visible through the sight-opening 2, throughwhich the fixed red target 52 shows when the white target is elevated.

In the wiring for the signal at the right end of the block, asillustrated in Fig. 4, the solenoid 5 is connected by a wire 61 with acontact 62, supported by the hanger 55, but insulated therefrom by thenon-conducting ma terial 63, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, wires 64and 58, having lamps 59 in circuit therewith, connecting said solenoidwith the track 60. The solenoid 6 is connected by a wire 53 with acontact 54, supported by the hanger 55, but insulated therefrom by thenon-conducting material 56, Wires 57 and 58, having lamps 59 in circuittherewith, connecting said solenoid with the track 60. A pendulatinglever 65, pivoted in the hanger at the point 66, has an upper arm 67,connected by a coiled spring 68 with said hanger (to hold said levernormally in the vertical position) and is provided with forked arms 69,which project below the trolley-wire 70 on either side thereof to beengaged by a passing trolley, whereby the upper arm 67 is thrown-for aninstant onlyinto engagement with one of the contacts 54 or 62, and thecorresponding solenoid is thus excited by current passing from thetrolley-Wire therethrough to the ground. In the wiring of the signal atthe left end of the block a similar arrangement obtains, the respectivesolenoids 5' and 6 being connected by wires 61 and 53' with contacts 62and 54, the lever 65 affording connection with the trolley-wire 70, theground connections for said solenoids being formed by the wires 64, 57,and 58', having the lamps 59 in circuit therewith. T he solenoid 43 isconnected with a feed-wire 71 by means of the binding-screw 13, brush12, disk 9, shaft 8, hanger 7, and wire 72, excepting when the sector 10is opposite said brush, at which time the circuit is broken, the groundconnection for said solenoid being through the wires 73 and 58, havingthe lamps 59 and 59 in circuit therewith, and the track 60. The solenoid43 is similarly connected with a feed-wire 71 and with the groundthrough the wires 7 3 58' and track 60. A wire 74 connects the wires 53and 53' adjacent to the solenoid 6, and a wire 74 connects the wires 53and 53 adjacent to the solenoid 6.

In the wiring method as illustrated in Fig. 4 the circuits for thesolenoids 5 and 6 and 5' and 6' are the same as those illustrated inFig. 4, excepting that the lamps or resistance 59 and 59 are placedoutside of the signalboX; but the solenoid 43 is provided'with anindependent ground connection through the wire 73, lamps 80, located inthe signal-box, wire 81, and the lamp 82, which is placed convenient forobservation from the car when opposite the contact-lever 65. As theoperation of the disk 9 closes the connection be tween wires 71 and 72,thus illuminating the lamp 82, it will be seen that this lamp indi=cates whether or not the signal at the opposite end of the block isoperating. Similarly the solenoid 43 is connected with the groundthrough the Wire 73, lamps 80, located in the signal-box, wire 81, andthe lamp 82, which is placed convenient for observation from the carwhen opposite the contact-lever 65 and indicates whether or not thesignal at the opposite end of the block is operating.

In the operation of the invention, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the carpassing from the left to the right rocks the lever 65 (by the action ofthe trolley) into engagement with the contact 62, permitting current topass from the trolley-wire through the wire 61, solenoid 5, wires 64 and58, and lamps 59 to the track 60. The armature of the solenoid beingthus excited rises, and its pawl 19 engages one of the pins 11 andrevolves the disk 9 through an octant. The distance the disk moves islimited by the bell-crank 34, the outer arm of which is engaged by thepin 39, which throws the inner arm thereof into position to engage theadjacent pin 11 and check the disk. By this movement of the disk 9 thebrush 12, which normally registers with the open sector 10, is broughtinto electrical contact with the disk, and current now passes from thefeeder 71 through screw 13, brush 12, disk 9, shaft 8, hanger 7, wire72, solenoid 43, wire 73, lamps 59 and 59 to the ground through the wire58 and track 60. The solenoid 43 being thus excited, its armature liftsthe stem 46 and the white target 49 by means of the pin 47 and hub 48,thus permitting the. red target 52 to show through the sight-opening 2.The engagement of the contact 62 and the lever 65 continuing but aninstant, the armature 15 drops upon completing its stroke, and the nose29 of the pawl slips past the next lower pin 11 into position to engageit and advance the disk through a second octant, when a second car shallmove the lever 65 again into engagement with the contact 62. The whitetarget is thus held in the elevated or danger position while sevensuccessive cars pass upon the block from left to right,

for the solenoid 43 remains excited while the seven octants of the diskare in contact with the brush. When, however, the disk has passedthrough a complete revolution, its advance is stopped by the engagementof the pin 41 with the pin 42. As each car passes off the block, thelever is brought into engagement with the contact 54, permitting currentto pass from the trolley-wire through the wire 74, solenoid 6, wires 57and 58, and. lamps 59 to the track 60. Thus each car throws the disk 9back in passing off the block the same distance it has thrown it forwardin passing on. Hence the last car leaving the block, whether one or morehave been thereon at the same time, will throw the open sector 10 intoregistration with the brush 12, thus dropping the white target andshowing a clear block. If after a car has passed on the block from leftto right it backs off, the lever 65 is caused to engage the contact 54and current passes from the trolley-wire through the wire 53and thesolenoidti, which being thus excited reverses the disk and eliminatesthe action the car effected in pass ing on the block. A similaroperation is enacted by cars passing from right to left.

In the operation of the invention as illustratedin Fig. 4 the disk isoperated as heretofore explained, as is also the target, but the circuitleading from the solenoid 43 comprises the wire 73, the lamps 80, thewire 81, and the lamp 82, providing an independent circuit for thesolenoid and securing for the operatingcar an indication whether it hasor has not operated the signal at the opposite end of the block by meansof the lamp 82. A similar circuit is provided for the solenoid 43'.

It will thus be seen that each car indicates its passage on a clearblock and eliminates the indication on passing therefrom, whetherrunning the length of the block or backing off. The target is held atthe danger position so long as any one of a plurality of cars remains onthe block, and a clear track is indicated only when the last car haspassed from the block.

The lamps which form the requisite resistance for the operation at nightilluminate the target exposed through the sight-opening of thesignal-box, and in the preferred form of the construction the properoperation of the signal is indicated at both ends of the block.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the details ofconstruction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof,and I do not wish to be understood as limiting its scope to the specificfeatures shown and described.

Having thus described my invent-ion, I claim- 1. In a signalingapparatus, a circuit-closer, a solenoid and an armature thereforelectrically actuated through said circuit-closer, a contact device,means carried by said arma- 2. In a signaling apparatus, acircuit-closer,

a solenoid and an armature therefor actuated through saidcircuit-closer, a contact device, means carried by said armature fordirectly engaging and operating said contact device,

a solenoid and an armature therefor electrically actuated through saidcontact device, a target pi votally connected with the armature of saidsecond solenoid and operated thereby, in combination with a secondcircuit-closer, a solenoid and an armature therefor electricallyactuated through said second circuitcloser, and means carried by saidlast-named armature for directly engaging and reversing said contactdevice, substantially as specified.

3. In a signaling apparatus, a circuit-closer, a solenoid and anarmature therefor electrically actuated through said circuit-closer, adisk, means carried by said armature for directly engaging and revolvingsaid disk, a brush directly engaged by the revolution of said disk toform an electrical contact, a target, a solenoid and an armaturetherefor connected with said target and actuated through said disk andbrush to operate said target, substantially as specified.

4. In a signaling apparatus, a target, a so lenoid and an armaturetherefor pivotally connected with said target, an electric circuit, acircuit-closer therefor comprising a brush and a disk, a solenoid and anarmature therefor, and means carried by said second arma= tu re fordirectly engaging and operating said disk.

5. In a signaling apparatus, a target, a solenoid and an armaturetherefor connected with said target, an electric circuit, acircuitcloser therefor comprising a brush and a revoluble disk, asolenoid and an armature therefor having a pawl which directly engagesand actuates said disk, a second solenoid and an armature thereforhaving a pawl which directly engages and reverses said'disk, in combination, as specified.

6. In a signaling apparatus, a target, a so lenoid and an armaturetherefor pivotally connected with said target, an electric circuit, acontact device therefor comprising a brush and a revoluble disk having asector removed therefrom, a second solenoid and an armature therefor,means carried by said second armature for directly engaging andoperating said disk to close said circuit, a third solenoid and anarmature therefor, means carried by said third armature for directlyengaging and op crating said disk to open said circuit, and means forlimiting the movement of said disk, substantially as specified.

7. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a revoluble disk, with asolenoid, an armature-stem for said solenoid, a pawl carried by saidarmature-stem, a series of pins arranged around the periphery of saiddisk in position to be engaged by said pawl as it is elevated by itsarmature, a bell-crank pivoted to a fixed support, a pin on saidarmature which engages the outer arm of said bellcrank as said armaturerises, whereby the inner arm of said bell-crank is thrown into the pathof said pins to check said disk, substantially as specified.

8. In asignaling apparatus, a circuit-closer, a solenoid and an armaturetherefor, a conductor leading from said circuit-closer to said solenoid,a contact device, means carried by said armature for directly engagingand operating said contact device, a target, mechanism electricallyactuated through said contact device for operating said target, a signallocated in proximity to said circuit-closer, and a conductor leadingfrom said contact device to said signal, said signal indicating theoperation of said target, substantially as specified.

9. In a signaling apparatus, a shaft, a disk and a target carried bysaid shaft, a solenoid and an armature therefor, a pawl carried by saidarmature which engages and advances said disk, at second solenoid and anarmature therefor, a pawl carried by said second armature which engagesand reverses said disk, and means connecting said disk and target,whereby said target is operated through said disk.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 0 my hand.

TAYLOR THOMAS FOGEL.

In presence of- O. N. BUTLER, EDWARD J. CONOANNON.

